THE FINANCIER
brought him " I don't wonder you stay at home Sun-
day evenings. What's new in the city?"
"Nothing much, so far as I can see," replied Mollen-
hauer, pacifically. "Things seem to be running smooth
enough. You don't know anything that we ought to
worry about, do you?"
"Well, yes," said Butler, draining off the remainder of
a brandy and soda that had been prepared for him.
"One thing. You haven't seen an avenin' paper, have
you?"
"Not at all," said Mollenhauer, straightening up. "Is
there one out? What's the trouble, anyhow?"
"Nothing—except Chicago's burning, and it looks as
though we'd have a little money-storm here in the morn-
"You don't say! I didn't hear that. There's a paper
out, is there? Well, well—is it much of a fire?"
"The city is burning down, so they say," put in Owen,
who was watching the face of the distinguished politician
with considerable interest.
"Well, that is news. I must send out and get a paper.
John!" he called. His man-servant appeared. "See if
you can get me a paper somewhere." The servant dis-
appeared. "What makes you think that would have
anything to do with us ?" observed Mollenhauer, re-
turning to Butler.
"Well, there's one thing that goes with it that I didn't
know till a little while ago. Our man Stener is apt to be
short in his accounts, I hear, unless things come out
better than some people seem to think," suggested Butler,
calmly. "That might not look so well before election,
would you say?"
Mollenhauer eyed him searchingly.
"Where did you get that ?" he said. "He hasn't de-
liberately taken much money, has he? How much has
he taken—do you know?"
"Quite a bit," replied Butler, quietly. "Nearly five
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